Rohit Roy – During Swabhiman, Actors Like Manoj Bajpayee, Ashutosh Rana, Sharad Kapoor, and I Were Obsessed With the Craft (Actor, Director, Producer)

"If I had been a trained actor from the start, what took me 10 years, I could’ve achieved in just 2–3."

1. You wear many hats—actor, director, producer. How do you define yourself today?

You forgot "host"! Yes, I’ve worn many hats throughout my career—actor, director, producer, and now even writer and host. While I enjoy all these roles, acting is what truly put me on the map. But if you ask me what really defines me today, it’s direction.

Acting actually happened to me by chance—I never intended to be an actor. That’s why I often call myself an “accidental actor.” My true passion, the one that consumes me entirely, is writing and directing. That’s what I came here to do.

I was a shy kid growing up, so imagining myself as an actor was far-fetched. Now, being able to write my thoughts on paper, see them come alive on screen, and be involved in every aspect of creating a film or show—that's what gives me a sense of purpose.

I’m extremely grateful to have had incredible opportunities over a career spanning more than three decades. I still feel young and restless, eager to do more. While I continue to act on television, OTT, and in films, my heart lies in direction.

Hopefully, in 2025, my next directorial project will go on floors. I’ve been working on the script for a couple of years, and it’s finally ready. So yes, to answer your question—direction is what truly defines me today.

2. How did your early life in Ahmedabad and your father's passing shape you and your worldview?

Growing up in Ahmedabad felt like living in a warm, protected bubble. I come from a very close-knit family and, being the younger son, I was extremely pampered. I’m an Aries—childlike in temperament—and my mother was especially protective of me.

One thing I remember vividly from those early days is the emotional depth of small-town living. In smaller cities, relationships are more genuine and heartfelt, often free from agenda. When you move to a metropolis like Delhi or Mumbai, the distance isn’t just geographical—it’s emotional. Life becomes more formal.

For example, in Ahmedabad, the doors to my home were always open for friends—no need to call ahead. That warmth is something I still miss.

Losing my father at the tender age of 14 or 15—an age when you’re not fully formed—was like a bolt from the blue. It forced me to grow up overnight. I was good at academics and knew what path I wanted to follow. But I believe my father had a different plan for me.

He used to compliment my singing and school drama performances—always in few words, but they meant the world to me. I remember once, while I was humming along with the radio, my mom told me to go study. But my father quietly said, “Good, good.” That one word was like a medal.

He wasn’t expressive, like most alpha dads of that era, but when he did speak, it meant everything. After he passed, things shifted. I believe he still guided me. My student visa to the U.S. got rejected, and I ended up in Mumbai. I became an actor. In many ways, I think my father had a direct hand in shaping who I’ve become.

3. Looking back, was your shift to acting after the visa rejection a matter of fate or chance?

Oh, that was definitely fate. No question about it.

I often say this during my talks at schools and colleges: keep working hard, stay committed to your goals, but be open to life’s twists. You never know where it might take you. I’m a firm believer in destiny.

Yes, luck and chance play a part in life, but there’s something bigger—call it fate, destiny. Mine led me to Mumbai, to Kunal Kapoor, to an ad film shoot where I was spotted, and eventually to my first film.

Fate decides the destination, but how you get there—that’s up to you. That’s where karma comes in. You have to keep doing the work. I can’t prove this tangibly, but my life has been full of quirky twists and turns, and I believe they were all meant to happen.

That’s why I never get overly elated by success or too shattered by failure. I trust that destiny will take me where I’m meant to be—sooner or later.

4. What’s the biggest difference between working in television and cinema?

The most obvious difference is quality and preparation time.

In television, things move fast. You’re handed a fat script in the morning and expected to finish 20–25 pages a day. There’s hardly any time to prep for your character. You have to become the character instantly—Rohit Roy has to vanish, and the role must take over.

In cinema, you get the script months in advance. These days, it’s a bound script, which gives you time to think, rehearse, and prepare in-depth. I’m not the kind of actor who goes off to live in a jungle to prepare for a role, but I do internalize my lines deeply—I go over them repeatedly until they become second nature.

I try to do the same in television, but the pace rarely allows for it. Unfortunately, most TV actors today don’t get—or take—that kind of time either. There’s glitz and glamour on TV now, but I feel the passion and hunger have dimmed.

Back during Swabhiman, actors like Manoj Bajpayee, Ashutosh Rana, Sharad Kapoor, and I were obsessed with the craft. We used to rehearse lines during breaks, work together intensely. These days, many actors rely on assistant directors prompting them with lines on set.

So yes, the biggest difference is the time, the process—and maybe, somewhere, the passion.

5. Across your long career, which role impacted you the most personally?

Even after three decades, the role that impacted me the most personally was my very first one—Rishabh Malhotra in Swabhiman.

That character brought about a complete transformation in me. Since it was my debut, I had no formal process. I was Rishabh, and Rishabh was me. For four and a half years, there was no separation—I lived and breathed him. Even my friends began addressing me as Rishabh, not Rohit.

That role became a part of my DNA.

A very close second would be my role as Fattu in Shootout at Lokhandwala. It was my first truly grey character, someone shaped by a harsh society and forced down the wrong path. That performance wasn’t just well-received—it made me feel like I had truly contributed something substantial to the film.

That role helped me grow as an actor. It made me more conscious, more responsible about the kind of roles I chose afterward.

6. How did starting out as an assistant director shape your approach to acting?

This is a brilliant question. Starting out as an assistant director is probably why I am the kind of actor I am today.

I won’t claim whether I’m great or not—that’s for the audience to decide. But I do consider myself a very aware actor. I know my lines like the back of my hand. That was advice given to me by the great Naseeruddin Shah during Swabhiman.

I also know my co-actors’ lines. I understand where I’m coming from in the scene and where I need to go. That clarity comes from having a director’s mindset.

A lot of actors just surrender to the process. I can’t. I always have a director in my head guiding me, shaping my performance. That internal director ensures my approach is varied, layered. Even as an actor, you can interpret a role in multiple ways—and I believe that’s what has kept my performances dynamic over the years.

7. What's your top advice for actors in today’s OTT era?

I’m not sure what advice I can really give to actors working in OTT, television, or anywhere else today—because honestly, people are coming in so well-prepared. The kind of talent around us right now is spectacular. There’s been a real paradigm shift, and I use that term often because the change is that significant. Compared to 7–8 years ago, today’s actors are far more equipped. Most of them are trained in some capacity—whether it’s through formal institutions like NSD or FTII, private coaching, or drama schools. They arrive with a solid understanding of the performing arts, and that makes a world of difference.

Personally, what took me 10 years to achieve as an actor could’ve been accomplished in 2–3 years had I received formal training from the start. Of course, the learning never stops—it continues until the day you hang up your boots. But having that foundational training gives you a massive head start.

That said, if I had to give just one piece of advice, it would be this: Be patient. Patience is the greatest virtue in our industry. You might land a job tomorrow, or you might have to wait a year—or even two or three. It all depends on your journey and what destiny has in store for you. But trust that your moment will come—whether it's a role in a film, an OTT series, or a television show. It will happen.

And one small suggestion for television actors: Treat it as a passion, not just a way to earn money. That passion will carry you forward.

8. What’s one thing fans don’t know about you off-screen?

With Instagram and social media, fans are quite privy to our lives these days. But one thing they might not know about me is that I’m actually a pretty good writer—and I sing quite well too, or so I’ve been told!

I’ve recently started sharing videos of myself singing on Instagram, and the kind of feedback I’ve received from professional singers has been really heartening. I’m not formally trained, but I’m Bengali—and they say we Bengalis are born with a sense of sur and taal. Singing and dancing bring me a lot of joy. I genuinely love it.

Someday, I hope to train properly and maybe even sing professionally. So if someone were to ask me what I’d be doing if I weren’t an actor, I’d say—after direction—I’d love to be a singer. Performing on stage gives me an incredible rush, and not many people know this, but I’ve actually sung live on stage before. It’s something that brings me immense happiness.

Bio:

Rohit Roy is a renowned Indian actor, director, and writer known for his versatile performances across television, film, and digital platforms. With a career spanning over two decades, Rohit rose to fame with his iconic roles in popular TV shows like Swabhimaan and Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand, later cementing his place in Bollywood with acclaimed films such as Kaabil, Shootout at Lokhandwala, and Fashion.

A trained performer with a deep passion for storytelling, Rohit has also ventured into direction, showcasing his creative vision behind the camera. Beyond acting, he is a talented writer and an enthusiastic singer, often delighting his audience with his multifaceted artistic pursuits. Known for his charm, dedication, and enduring connection with fans, Rohit Roy continues to be a dynamic and respected figure in the Indian entertainment industry.

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Interviewed by: Shrishti Chandra 

Edited by: Shantanu Singh